❲ @elfbear ❳
He'd watched the Emerald Grove through the eyes of a misfit group of adventurers- and he'd seen the rescue, too. He'd chosen well, at least if he had to say so himself, when he sought out the right people to aid him- except it turned out that much of what he perceived as his own free will was simply the Elder Brain continuing to work on the Grand Design. He'd known fury and hurt, then- and it had been a shame that so many people had been drawn in because of the Absolute. A false god made by humans who yearned for a power that was not theirs to take. If they'd wanted to be so high and mighty, they could've chosen to become illithid. Just like he had-
⎛ But it wasn't really his choice. He never got one. The Moonrise Towers were beautiful when he first arrived, but he was rewarded with only agony. What was it that they said? It could take up to seven days for ceremorphosis to complete, and unfortunately for Balduran, it took just that. It was agony- for a good cause, right? ⎠
The Archdruid had avoided any real contact with any illithid colony- at least, he'd never been presented a tadpole, and none had been forced upon him. There was a part of Balduran that felt jealous of that. It meant freedom, didn't it? He'd always wanted that. ⎛ He really didn't have the capacity to deal with those sorts of feelings, though. Not yet, perhaps not ever. ⎠ Instead, he offers a small smile. The Archdruid wouldn't know him- maybe that was for the best.
❝ I would like to thank you- ❞
❝ For helping the others through the Shadow Cursed Lands. That merry group of adventurers mean quite a lot to me- We have never met before, so this must seem rather strange ... ❞ But he needs it off his chest, doesn't he? To admit to someone about how he cares for the others- perhaps back then, he would've called them his thralls. Deep down, it was more than that. It's easier to understand when he says it out loud. ❝ If there is anything I can do to repay you for that, say the word and it shall be done. ❞